IND vs NZ | Twitter over moon as Kohli unleashes majestic cover drive off first ball to send Rajkot into raptures

‌After being put in to bat, the Indian opening duo of Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma were cautious in the initial overs before opening up in the second ODI against New Zealand in Rajkot. Rohit Sharma was watchful, getting off the mark in only his 10th ball, while Gill also took his time as the Men in Blue were placed at 10/0 after the first five overs.

However, both batters shifted gears, with Gill being the aggressor, to take the side to 70 at the end of the 12th over. With Rohit falling to Kristian Clarke in the next over, the Niranjan Shah Stadium welcomed new batter Virat Kohli with loud cheers and thunderous applause.

And the former Indian captain paid them back instantaneously with a majestic cover drive in his very first ball. Virat looked in the zone as he moved well to lean towards the ball, caressing a half volley outside off stump from Klarke through the gap.

The in-form batter, who had a half-century in the last game, showed signs of putting in another stellar performance with the bat, and the Rajkot crowd did not complain. As the ball raced to the cover fence, the crowd reserved the most boisterous cheer for the veteran batter.

Twitter was in awe as Kohli made full use of his newfound early aggression and collected four runs, with the crowd reliving all those majestic drives that have shaped up a wonderful career.

King has arrived!

No.1 Ranked ICC ODI Batter ಇವ್ರೇ ನೋಡಿ! - King Kohli.👑



📺 ವೀಕ್ಷಿಸಿ | #INDvNZ 👉 2nd ODI | LIVE NOW | ನಿಮ್ಮ Star Sports 2 ಕನ್ನಡ & JioHotstar ನಲ್ಲಿ.#TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/hig9Sg5tIh

— Star Sports Kannada (@StarSportsKan) January 14, 2026

Beauty!

Off the mark with a glorious kohli-drive.😭🤍 pic.twitter.com/dI3KJcDIkq

— . (@RCB_HIvv3) January 14, 2026

Loading!

Kohli 100 i can feel it in my mind

— jake parotta (@uthamannnnn) January 14, 2026

Kohli-Gill!

Yayiii it’s gill kohli time #INDvNZ

— meks (@allthefukinlove) January 14, 2026

No 1

VIRAT KOHLI LOCKED & LOADED



- THE NEW NUMBER 1 ODI BATTER, THE CROWN IS BACK FOR THE KING 🐐 👑 pic.twitter.com/ElW7wm0zXp

— the whites. (@thewhi8s) January 14, 2026

True!

This Virat Kohli is really a big threat for oppositions, cover drive on the very first ball he faced 🥵 pic.twitter.com/TMbfO8Ic8M

— Dinda Academy (@academy_dinda) January 14, 2026

On top!

Back to No.1.

First statement?

Kohli’s trademark cover drive.

Some things never change.#INDvsNZ pic.twitter.com/dXOiNVRcNU

— Anuj Yadav 🇮🇳 (@Hello_anuj) January 14, 2026

What a shot!

What a way to open your account. Cover drive and King Kohli a love story made in heaven pic.twitter.com/ERy0QqqB1X

— Manoj Yadav (@csmanoj21) January 14, 2026

First ball four!

🚨1st Ball Cover Drive For Virat Kohli 🔥#INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/76kv9lLYtv

— Vaishanvi Cricket (@Vaishnvii05) January 14, 2026

Stunning!

VIRAT KOHLI ARRIVED WITH A COVER DRIVE FOUR 🥶 pic.twitter.com/HvcT3V8UFt

— Keshav Roy (@KeshavRoy7101) January 14, 2026